Automatic switch



L; F. KETTERBE AUTOMATIC SWITCH Filed Ost.

Oct. 13, l925- ffl.;

Cil

Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. KETTEBING, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

DELCO-LIGHT COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Application filed October 21, 1919.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. Knr'rnniNG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ailtomatic Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to switches and more particularly to automatic switches which are actuated mechanically by instrumentalities which are used for meas'uring the work being performed.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an automatic switch adapted to be attached to a meter, herein shown as an ampere hour meter, having provisions for quickly breaking the switch contacts thereby preventing pitting and burning of the contacts.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accom anying drawings, wherein a preferred em odiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an amperehour meter dial showing the contacts closed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the contacts broken;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing thecontacts closed and also showing the position of the breaking elements while the battei-ies are bein discharged;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the method in which the contacts are slowly separated.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a dial 121 particularly applicable to an ampere-hour meter of the usual construction, which rotates an indicating hand in a certain direction when the current being measured flows in a certain direction. and rotates the hand in the opposite direction when the meter'measures current flowing in the opposite direction. A contact 122 is carried on the face of the dial 121 and held in place by rivets 123. Contact 122 is insulated from the dial 121 by insulating blocks 124 and 125. V.Adjacent to the dial 121 is a plate 126 provided at one side `with Serial No` 332,287`

a terminal 127, this terminal being insulated from the plate 126 by insulating blocks 128 and 129. Terminal 127 is connected to contact 122 by a bus bar 130. Bus bar 130 is connected to contact 122 by means ot the rivets 123. Said rivets are also used for conducting the current Jfrom the bus bar 130 through the insulating blocks 124 and 125 to contact 122. Contact l122 is provided with an inclined surface 131, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7. A terminal 132 is connected at the other side of the plate 126 and with resilient contact 133 which is normally in contact with contact 122. Resilient Contact 133 is provided with an inclined beveled edge portion 134 and this portion 134 is at such an angle that when force is applied thereto, the Contact 133 will tend to move away 'from the contact 122.

Mounted in the center of the meter is a hand 135 which is adapted to travel over the face of the dial 121. Said hand is provided with the resilient member 136 which will tend to travel with the hand over the inclined surface 131 oi the contact 122.

Current flowing in a certain direction through the meter will ca'use the hand 135 to travel over the face of the dial in a clockwise direction and the resilient member 136 attached to the hand will slide upwardly on the inclined surface 131 of contact 122, storing energy into the resilient member'. lVhen the hand 135 has moved a predetermined distance said resilient member 136 will drop off of the inclined surface onto the resilient Contact 133, thereby separat-ing contact 133 from contact 122. When current Hows through the meter in the opposite direction the hand 135 will. move in a counter-clockwise direction across the dial 121. The resilient member 136 will pass underneath the inclined surface 131 of contact 122 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 because of its tendency to separate itself from the hand 135.

The present invention is particularly applicable to meters used in battery-charging systems including an internal-combustion engine, a dynamo driven thereby, and a controller for maintaining the circuit connections between the battery and dynamo and ignition for the engine, while the dynamo operative. The quick operating switch maybe used for controlling the ignition cir- A cuit of the engine to stop the engine after a certain amount of current has passed through the meter, whereby the dynamo is rendered inoperative and the circuit between 5 the battery and dynamo and the ignition circuit is rendered inoperative at the controller. Current iiowing from the battery to a Work circuit of the battery-charging s stem will cause the hand to rotate counterc ockwise and the contact 133 will reengage contact 122.

Should the desire be to Start the engine, when the resilient member is in the position in which the resilient member 136 is under- 15 'neath the contact 122, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fi 6, the quick breaking mechanism herein described will not be in a position to operate because of the incapability of the resilient member to slide upwardly on the inclined surface 131. However, the hand 135 is still capable of breaking the ignition circuit again when the battery has been charged a predetermined amount. Now as the meter measures current fiowng into the battery, the hand 135 will again travel in a clockwise diiection and will come in contact with inclined edge poi-tion 134 of the resilient member 133 pushing said resilient member down and away from contact 122. In. this manner the ignition circuit will be broken again and the engine will cease to operate.

It can be seen from the foregoing description that certainadvantages are present. For instance the burning and arcing of the thereby' obtaining a quick actuation of contacts. 2,351 f 2. A device of the kind described prisingthe combination oi an mit switch, having cooperating contacta; of a 70 meter; of a mechanism Operated by the i meter, said mechanism including a movable resilient member; of a part having an clined surface prefer-,ting in the ath movement of said resilient member ontvang-ys, ing said member to be iiexed as said mh L ber moves over said incined bud then for permitting said resilient member-WtoV be released and'to suddenly strike a fw l s.

one of said contacts thereby obtaini quick actuation of said contacts.' 1

3. In a device of the kind describedg'itip combination with cooperating contacts'f: meter operable in two directions to indicate the inflow or outflow of quantities measured; of a normally unbent Tessili,y member actuated b l said meter; and al A .v provided with an clined surface mounted' 1n the path of movement of the resiiiN member for causing flexing of the res'Y "a member to store energy therein as the moves in one direction, whereb when resilient member is suddenl r eased u moving away from the incl ned `surface switch contacts will befuddenly B355 l said part having provisions,permit resilient member moving away from V switch when the meter in the op'.A site direction and for causing said me" switch contacts is prevented by quickly breaking the contacts in the manner described. In case the quick action mechanism is in such a position that it cannot operate, means are provided for separating these contacts at all events. As circumstances will seldom arise which might prevent the quick action mechanism from operatin it is immaterial that occasionally a quic break is not obtained.

While the forni of mechanism herein shown and described constitutes a preferred embodiment of one form of the invention, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted and various changes and alterations made in the shape, size and proportion of the elements therein-Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

fhat I claim is as follows 1. A device of the kind described comprising the combination of an automatic switch, having cooperating contacts; of a meter; of a mechanism operated by the meter, Vsaid mechanism including a movable resilient member; and means provided in the path of movement of said resilient member Afor causing energy to be stored therein as the member is moving, and for permitting said resilient member to be released and to suddenly strike against one of said contacts to be restored to a position whereby :i` member may again engage the inclined -i face when the meter aga-in moves' "inthe rstfmentioned direction.

4. in a device of uw kind searchterm-, combination with cooperating contactar; 4

meter operable in two directions to the iniiow and outflow of quantitis measured; of aY movable resilient actuated b said meter; and a part ha' an incline surface rejecting in the' f of movement of sai msilient member., j causing energy to be Stored therein I' "I member is moving in oiefdireotion and for. permittin said resilient member to be leased an to suddenly strike.againstoitox h5 saidcontacts thereby obtaining a.' break of said contacts, and for, the movement of the resilient member opposite direction allowing the con tu come together and, aftena movement of said resilient member in said opposite direction, to permit said ber to be restored to the normal fEosition engagement by said inclinedsur ce n a device of the lnd descnbotbm combination with cooperating contactsi ii! a meter operable in two directions to cate the inflow and outflow of quantities) be measured; of a movable resilient actuated by said meter; of apart having,` Lm

predetermined' im Allianz .l dan inclined surfaceprojecting in the path o movement of said resilient member for causing energy to be stored therein as the member is moving in one direction and for permitting 'aid resilient member to be released and to suddenly strike against one of said contacts thereby obtaining a quick break of said contacts, and for permitting the movement of the resilient member in an opposite direction allowing the contacts to come together and, after a predetermined movement of said resilient member in the said opposite direction, to permit said member to be restored to the 'normal position for engagement by said inclined surface; and provisions t'or separating the contacts by movement oit the meter in the Iirst mentioned direction in case the said predetermined movement in said opposite direction has not taken place.

6. A device of the kind described comprising thel combination of an automatic switch having cooperating contacts; of a movable mechanism including a. resilientmember; and means provided in the path of movement of said resilient member for causing energy to be stored therein as the member is moving, and for permitting said resilient member to be released and to suddenly strike against one of said contacts thereby obtaining a quick break of said contacts.

7. A device of the kind described comprising the combination of an automatic switch having cooperatingr contacts; of a movable mechanism including a resilient member, said mechanism being movable in two directions; and means provided in the path of movement ot said resilient member tor causing eneigy to be stored therein as the member is moving in one direction and for permitting said resilient member to be released and to suddenly strike against one of said contacts, and for permitting the movement of the resilient member in the other direction allowing the contacts to come together and` after a predetermined movement of said resilient member in the said other direction, to permit said member to be restored to the normal position for engagelnent with said means.

8. A device of the kind described comprising the combination of an automatic switch having cooperating contacts; of a` movable mechanism operable in two directions. said mechanism including means tor obtaining a quick separation of the contacts vvhile said mechfuiisni is moving in one' dition. :aid mechanism including mean: for restoring the contacts to normal conditions tor repetition of the quick separating operation by a certain moven'ient of the mechanism in the other direction; and means provided tor obtaining a separation ot said contacts by a movement of the mechanism in the first named direction, said means being ope ative in case the mechanism has not moved suiiiciently in said other direction to permit the quick separating mechanism to become operable.

9. A device ot the kind described comprising the combination of an automatic switch having cooperating contacts; of a movable mechanism operable in two directions, said mechanism including means for obtaining a quick actuation of the contacts while said mechanism is moving in one direction, said mechanism including means for restoring the contacts to normal condition and for conditioning the quick actuating means for repetition of the quick actuating operation by a certain movement of the mechanism in the other direction; and auxiliary means provided for obtaining an actuation of the contacts by a movement of the mechanism in the tirst named direction, said means being operative in case the mechanism has not moved suiiiciently in said other direction to condition the quick operating mechanism.

10. A device of the kind described comprising the combination of an automatic switch having cooperating contacts; of a movable mechanism operable in two directions, said mechanism including means for obtaining a quick actuation of the contacts while said mechanism is moving in one direction, said mechanism including means for restoring the contacts to normal condition and for conditioning the quick actuating means for repetition of the quick actuating operation by a certain movement of the mechanism in the other direction; and an indicator hand actuated b v the mechanism, said hand and one of said contacts having provisions for actuating the contacts by a movementot the mechanism in the first named direction and operative incase the mechanism has not moved sufficiently in said other direction to condition the quick oilierating mechanism.

V1l. A meter comprising, in combination, a dial. cooperating switch contacts adapted to be actuated for opening and closing a circuit, and means operated by the meter for effecting a quick actuation of said contacts, said means including a resilient member movable transverse to the face of said dial to actuateaone of said contacts.

1Q. A meter comprising, in combination. a dial` cooperating switch contacts adapted to bc actuated tor opening and closing a circuit. and me: is operated bj.' the meter l'or etfecting a unici. .:tuation of said contacts, .said means including a member movable transverse to the tace of the dia-l to actuate one ot said contacts.

1?). An electric meter comprising in combination. a movable mechanism, av resilient member adapted to be actuated by the mechanism. said member being adapted to be exedto stone energy therein, and then be suddenly. released by operation of the mechmism, Vand a movable switch contact adapted to be actuated by the milient member when the member is suddenly released whereby said contact is quickly actuated.

14. An electric meter comprising, in combination, a. movable mechanism including a ehaft, an indicator hand carried b the '1 Shaft, a resilient member adapted to mctualpdV by the Shaft und adapted to the movable contact, said member i-i adapted to be exed totore energy shaft, and a movable switc said contact is quickly actuated. In testimozli'A f I ax m C KE whereo RLES F. 

